"Yes sir, Iron Fist SIR!"
Hidden replied smartly, almost out of habit - he recongised a militaristic figure when he saw one. The salute he threw to his brow was professional, to the point and brief.
Sinking back into stealth mode, the defender concentrated his radiation blasts on the monstrosity's feet, just as commanded.
Physic nodded at Iron Fist, hovering at Hidden Incognito's left shoulder, and pumping the nearby heores full of syphoned power, speed and health.
She Crushed the metal as much as she could; but the beast was far to heavy to lift or hold. Nonetheless, a few dents appeared in it's frame as the gravity increased around it's monstrous legs.
Knight was making sparks fly as she beat upon it with her battle axe, the aura of flames tarnishing the thick hull.
Then the beast was exploding, and none of the heroes really knew why.
Ah well, one down.. countless others to go.
Hidden marched smartly up to Iron Fist, threw the salute again, and then:
"Iron Fist sir! What are our current mission objectives, Sir!"
Knight wandered off again, raking the nearby nemisis troops with the fury of her mace, scorching them with her fiery aura... And generally slaughtering the horde. She was good at that. Unfortunatly that's about all she was good at.
Physic Defiance padded up to Hidden and Iron Fist, tentitavly, and asked of him:
"Sir," she began uncertainly, unsure if her words would anger him, "I hope you have a damn good plan. We could maybe clear the area, but by then it's possible that things are going to get much worse."
Hidden scowled at her momentarily, then shrugged her insubordination aside. She was a heroeine; what would she know of the military?
((Sorry about the delay in posting, but have been without power since Thursday morning... doing this from a Panera restaurant!!))
Silver Skull was just getting ready for another slash at Panda Doll when he was teleported out of the sewers, leaving her hurt, but not incapacitated.
I don't know where he went, but good riddance!
Reaching inside her jacket, Panda Doll pulled out a stimulant hypo to help regain her strength and aid recovery. Coming to her feet, she looked around and decided that the best place was out of the sewers, she hated the smell and knew that it would take 3 washings to get the odor out of her suit. Unfortunately she was now disoriented and didn't know which way was out. She began walking down the passage hoping that she could find the way she had come in.
.................................................. .........................
Mutai Kid and Psiearth had been a good 100 yards behind Billyboy when he had met up with Hellcat. They saw the duo disappear into the sewers and were about to follow when a platoon of 5th Column soldiers appeared from a nearby alleyway. "5th Column, I thought they were all killed or absorbed by the Council!" remarked Mutai Kid.
"Apparently not! We better deal with them before they can sneak up on Billyboy and Hellcat" saying this, Psiearth projected a quicksand trap at the feet of the rushing squad. This slowed the progress of the soldiers, but it also redirected their attention to the pair of heroes. With a stomp of his foot Psiearth caused stalagmites to shoot upwards from the ground hitting some of the soldiers and stunning them and knocking over others. Mutai Kid jumped in the midst of those who were still standing and using a Dragon's tail swipe, knocked them all down. A few remained on the ground, but a couple raised their weapons beginning to fire. Mutai Kid quickly reacting to the weapons fire, dodged left and right avoiding the fire and at the same time lining himself up to knock the remaining soldiers out of action. Swinging an elbow into the face of one and a roundhouse kick to the chin of another the squad of 5th column lay writhing in agony on the ground.
"That should take care of them for a while. We better catch up with Billyboy and Hellcat, I think they're gonna need our assistance!" At these words Mutai Kid and Psiearth jumped down the sewer hole and picked up the trail of their compatriots. The trail was easy to follow, all they had to look for were the pristinely clean sections of sewer.
Within a few minutes they came upon the great chasm which held one of the great steam engines. Many Nemesis and 5th column machines and soldiers were strewn about, none of them moving. "Psi, see if you can pick up Billyboy's thoughts, we need to find them quick."
"I'll see what I can do, give me a minute." Psiearth then began to concentrate his third eye to search out the brainwaves of everyone within a mile of thier position. He sensed several new patterns, some from heroes and some from villians, then zeroed in on Billyboy. "This way, I sense they are moving to a new objective. We should catch up with them shortly..... and Lord Dire is with them by the way!" Psiearth began moving off towards one of the many outlets of the great cavern.
"It is that balance, the ground between EB and AV, where the PvP struggle should exist. Where a 1v1 becomes a struggle of equals, and 1vMany gives the benefit to the 1."
Freedom: Fireocity, Electro Imp, Gotya
Infinity: Meteor Storm, Mutai Kid, General Bot, Da Smasher
Iron Fist was impressed by the young man's smartness. He was not impressed with the other one however. But the first one, Iron Fist might just try to engage her in his army. But for now, all he could do is say, "I do have a plan. Most of the troops of Nmesis and 5th Column are spread everywhere at once. My plan is simple. We march from statue to statue, destroying each in turn. The statues are a last resort for them and the battle will be over soon. Since these cement robots are the legion's strongest forces we shall destroy them. After that, we will see how our comrades are faring. We will assist them as needed. Keep together, do not stray from each other unless I myself direct it." Iron Fist's troops marched off, leaving a trail of destroyed robots and dead Nemesis. They were almost at the second statue.
Hidden was as impressed by Iron Fist as the other was with him. Physic didn't really have an opinion - but Iron Fist seemed to have some sort of a plan, and a good amount of intelligence. In the end that's all that really mattered.
The slim female ran her pale fingers through her purple-hued hair, thinking that this was insiane, that there were too many troops, that she had a tear in her costume - she's need an apppointment at the Tailors to fix that - and then thinking that that was silly, and since when did she ever think about things like that?
Hidden had marched double-time to catch up with the rest of the troops, and Physic soon followed, healing and strengthing the troops whenever she could; holding as many enemies in their tracks as she could.
Knight was lost from view for a minute, underneath a pile of Nemisis troops. Then they all died, and she exploded from underneath then to charge up the street after her friends.
"What do now with giant stone?" The deadly femme inquired, in her gruff voice.
Hidden was the one to answer, Physic was busy throwing a sofa at the nearest enemy.
"There's still more statues to destroy; after that it should be over. Oh, get the guys behind you, Knight."
Knight swung around to deal with the ambush, just as the second statue loomed in the not-so-distant distance.
"There she is." breathed Physic, and Hidden paused in his battle.
"Same as before, phys. Lets get 'em."
The two (followed by KNight) ran to meet the hulking from, immediatly attacking the feet and legs, just as the tactic required.
((ooc:
Guess I should tell yas where my heroes be at (only because I have nothing else to do for the next 20 minutes. If you don't care, don't bother to read it.):
Physic Defiance: So named by her stunning ability to defy the laws of physics with her mind - and a few helpful gadgets she invented herself. Educated, female and sarcastic, she's tough, sly and eager to bring justice. Focused not on protecting the innocent, but on destroying the guilty, she's a force to be rekoned with.
(Grav/kenitcs Controller, current pool sets: Teleport; Current level: 15, RPing level: 30.)
Hidden Incognito: An old flame of Physics, he left her to join the army. Years of boot camps, tough battles, promotions and politics lead him to one place: A secret government lab under the deserts of Navada.
The scientists in controll of him didn't have much thought to the aftermath of their experiments - they let him loose after a year of intensive radiation and brutal experiments. He was instructed to do as he pleased - be that wreak havoc, or fight for the good, they didn'd particularily care. After two years of toasting door-to-door salesmen, he became restless and donned him infamour pink battle armour.
(Radiation/radiation defender. current pool sets: invisibility. Current lvl: 10. Rp level: 28)
Damsel Knight: After the experimental Time Bubble emerged from the distant past with an occupant, Crey Industries was worried about the effects it might have. Fortunatly for them, there were no greatly noticable problems, but the woman they held captive wasn't too pleased about it.
She appeared to be a simple damsel, old engligh and from the medival itimes. In a state of shock she passed out for almost a whole thirty minutes - and when she came to, the Crey industtialists were stunnned at what they discovered. They had brought back the infamous, nameless, female scourge of the dark ages.
Damsel and Knight fight for the misplaced body - Knight on the constant war path, and Damsel struggling to get back to her home in the past.
(war mace/firey aura Tanker. Current pool set: none. Current lvl: 6, I beleive. Rp level: 29)))
Panda Doll was hopelessly lost. She'd been wandering the sewers for nearly an hour and hadn't found any sign of an exit. Occassionally she heard voices and had gone stealth to avoid detection.
I should never have followed that guy down here! Mutai Kid is probably still on the surface battling Nemesis.
====================================
Unbeknown to Panda Doll, Mutai Kid was actually close to her, about 100 yards straight down. He and Psiearth had almost reached Billyboy, Hellcat, and Lord Dire, another 25 yards around the next corridor.
"It is that balance, the ground between EB and AV, where the PvP struggle should exist. Where a 1v1 becomes a struggle of equals, and 1vMany gives the benefit to the 1."
Freedom: Fireocity, Electro Imp, Gotya
Infinity: Meteor Storm, Mutai Kid, General Bot, Da Smasher
Iron Fist was no longer impressed with the quick efficiency of the trio, but deeply impressed. Impressed enough that he decided he wouldn't kill them if they didn't join his army. Yet.
"Keep using the same method! Alpha, take the enemy and keep them away! Go!" As before, Iron Fist directed Psy to teleport Fist onto the robots head. He did similar tactics as before, pounding into the Cement monstrosity, causing it to crush its own head.
_______
Silver Skull was jumping from Nemesis to 5th Column, and back to Nemesis again. Every jump he landed, he stabbed them with his lightning fast reflexes; dropping them before they had time to awknoledge his presence on their back. This isn't much of a challenge, he allowed himself to think. Then he grinned. But it's a lot more fun than fighting that crazy lady! He had completely forgotten why he was killing the troops in the first place, but he didn't care. It was fun.
((ooc: Couldn't add much. Decided to build up the situation a bit more))
Physic Defiance was occupied with an unnerving thought. She was just going through the motions - enough time fighting crime had given her the abilty to do that efficiently - and was concentrating harder upon her current mental plight than on the enemies she smited with her astounding control.
There was something weird about Iron Fist. Something not... right. She had worked alongside many heroes in her time, had encountered many villians too, and Physic just couldn't decide what side of the spectrum Iron Fist was.
He had a whole army for one - and the only hero army she knew of was the longbow. And there weren't many of them hanging around - though some flew overhead, apparently heading to somewhere important. (And what was that? Did she just see one of Iron Fist's troops attack a Longbow? Or were her eyes playing tricks on her?)
Also, he seemed a little.. malicious. Maybe it was the feroscity with which he controled his troops. Hidden seemed to trust him - but Hidden was bred and brainwashed to obey strict commands. Hell, she had even made him do errands for her from time to time, just by ordering him to do it. So Hidden couldn't be relied on.
And Knight hadn't really met the man. And even Knight wasn't to be exactly trusted with your life - she's turn that mace of hers onto your back if you angered her.
On the opposite hand, Physic couldn't fathom why he'd be helping the heroes. But Villians operated differently than the average hero; anyone not under a Villian's command was the enemy. Now there was a startling thought - what if they were now allied with a crook?
Physic failed to contained a shudder, and then to cover the motion let loose a powerful heal which lapped at all the nearby troops. It was a question for later. They were marching off again.
Billyboy stopped in his tracks very suddenly and turned with a smile on his face. "Hey, Mutai Kid, Psi!" he said, as he had already sensed their distinctive energy signals as they approached. It was nearly impossible to sneak up on him since he had unlocked his ability to detect energy currents in the air, and each signal was like a face, he didn't forget.
"What's Nemesis up to now?" Mutai asked curiously.
"Big, explosive generators, giant robots or something pounding up above, and we're trying to stop them from the control room that's hidden somewhere in here, though we aren't sure where! Overall, it's been a really crazy birthday, I can tell you that much!"
"Sounds like a blast, we'll come along." Mutai Kid smiled.
Billyboy suddenly jerked up, alert. "You go ahead with them, I'm gonna go back a little bit, I think I may have dropped something." Mutai Kid was about to reply, but Billyboy just put up a hand and waved him off as he rushed back the way they had come.
Leaving the others behind him, Billyboy came back to the room with the gigantic steam generator. Down in the shadows was a thin figure.
"Hey, Vim, long time no see! You always look like that, or did burnt hair, broken noses, and smeared makeup suddenly become the newest fashion item?" he asked with a laugh.
The assassin leapt from her position and kicked out at Billyboy with a scream, but the hero quickly stepped aside and blasted her midriff with a laser burst from his eyes, sending her flailing backwards into a wall.
"I like the chipped tooth there, very 'southern comfort'!" the hero taunted as his opponent stood again. "By the way, you only had me beat last time because you got the drop on me, pretty literally. You've got no chance now, chica!" He punched the air and his fists lit up with energy.
Vim shrieked ferally and rushed forward, this time managing to hit Billyboy solidly in the chest with a heavy punch. The hero scooted backwards a few feet with a grunt, but aside from that he seemed relativly unharmed. "That all you got?" he asked angrily. "Let's see how you like a little raz mataz!"
Billyboy concentrated hard as energy rushed into his fists, compacting so thoroughly that it took on a red hue. With a yell, the hero pounded the ground with it, releasing the torrent and sending a wave of earth and energy straight into a stunned Vim, who had absolutely no chance to dodge. She took hit terribly, spinning into the air with a scream, but Billyboy wasn't finished yet. He rushed forward with a glowing fist and slammed her while she was still in the air with all of his might, straight in the gut. Following through all the way, Billyboy drove Vim into the ground, sending rubble and stone flying every which way.
"Looks like I win." Billyboy said with a laugh as Vim groaned in the small crater, his confidence growing every second. "No chance, not at all. Your pretty face and nice butt may let you wiggle outa some tight situations, but I didn't go easy on you this time! Ya see, super villains are my specialty, and you're more of a class A loser than a super villain."
Vim leapt up suddenly with a shriek, enragaed at the boy's taunting, and socked him in the jaw with a right hook. The unprepared hero didn't have time to brace himself and went flying into the steam generator, crashing into with a slam.
"Oh, that's it, Vim! Now I'm pissed off!" Billyboy roared. "You could've killed us both with this damn generator, you could have blown up all of Steel Canyon!"
Vim looked puzzled for a moment, then comprehension dawned on her with a wicked smile. "Maybe that's just what I want!" she laughed. "At least I'll get you! I'll destroy you once and for all, and nobody will be able to say that Vim didn't get her bounty!"
"What the hell?" Billyboy yelled. "You can't collect if you're dead too!"
"THAT ISN'T THE POINT!" Vim screamed. "I'VE NEVER FAILED! I WON'T FAIL! I REFUSE TO FAIL! I'LL DESTROY ALL OF THIS STUPID CITY IF IT MEANS I CAN FINALLY KILL YOU!"
Billyboy's eyes widened for a moment, then he laughed. "You're pathetic, freaking do it, man! I'd like to see if you had the guts!"
"FINE!" Vim shrieked as she leapted off the ledge they had been fighting from and attempted to dropkick the generator. Billyboy yelled out in panic and shot forward, spearing her with his body before she could reach it and sending them both tumbling away.
"You're one seriously messed up chick!" Billyboy yelled as he punched the girl in the face repeatedly as she thrashed under him. "GET A LIFE!" Energy shot from his glowing eyes, slamming her into the ground fartherand breaking them into an even lower section of the sewer, one that didn't look like the sewer at all. Most likely because it wasn't but one of the many underground caves, and a big one. Billyboy saw exactly what Lord Dire had meant as he tumbled downward, exchanging snarls and punches with Vim. If that generator exploded, the city was going down!
They were both falling toward a black lake below, but Billyboy had other ideas. With a yell he kicked uppercut Vim and took the opportunity to kick off of her chest, sending himself rocketing back up through the hole they had created and to safety. As he watched Vim finish her plummet into the icey depthes he heard an angry scream, "You haven't seen the last of me!"
Billyboy stumbled away from the hole with a sigh and flew back to follow the others. "That's what they all say." he muttered sadly.
((OOC- Very nice Bagel. i like the way your building on it. I'm gonna use your char apprehension for my own indidious plot. Wath your back! 
))
________
Iron Fist was close to Physic at the time and he saw her shiver. He whispered, "Psy." The lean man appeared before his master with his customary bright flash of light. "My liege?" "Hello Psy. I need you to scan that young ladie's mind...
__________
Silver Skull was not purposefully moving towards Iron Fist, but he was. He had been slaughtering the enemy troops, tearing them apart like paper. The power in his attacks was amazing, almost as strong as a bullet. He was only a few feet away from Iron Fist...
((OOC- Come on Lord Dire, post! If nobody posts I'm gonna have to control thieir characters! I don't want to do that. 
))
*seeing Billyboy elsewise engaged Lord Dire descided not to interfere except in one small way.*
" Delphi lock on to the vims energy signature and transport her to secure base location 2." He stated to his armors comm system, after turning off the external feed so his erstwhile allies could not hear him." keep her comfortable and provide medical assistance for her."
" yes Lord Dire trasporting now." came the reply
As Vim fell she was caught in the transport beam of a small probe and teleported to an infirmary in one of Lord Dires smaller safe houses in Founders Falls. she would awaken after being attened too by his perosnal medical bots. HE might have an use for the fiersome assassin. but not now.
Lord Dire was very careful to keep his thoughts quiet. while he was confident that his armors psy dampners and feedback generators would protect him from telepathic intrusion. he knew psi earth was a strong telepath who might be able to read surface thoughts even with his shielding.
"Come we waste time here. Time nemesis and the fifth column can use to launch a counter attack." he stated imperiously.
then turning he left for the tunnel that he had found earlier that led to the control bunker a mile and half away.
Meanwhile miles away as Vim slowly came too her remarkable abilities enabling her to shake off some fo the beating she had received this day. Lord Dires personal medical bots did the rest.
using stimulants and healing probes they repaired the damage she had sustained and renergized her. and restored most of her appearance such as it was.
A feminine voice greeted her. as she recovered. "Greetings Vim. I am Delphi. I serve Lord Dire." the Holographic representation stated evenly. " He has a special proposition for which you are uniquley suited. in return you well be handsomely rewarded. Should you choose to accept."
So you mean you'll put down your rock, and I'll put down my sword; and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?
Dubbed first knight of pep-istan by her majesty Queen Pepcat. first catmonaut to walk onna moon.
PENGUIN!!!...(^)>
...............C(...)D
.................m.m
Vim growled angrily as she sat up and immediatly tapped her front tooth, which she found was no longer chipped. She was delighted at the fact, but it hardly compared to the intense hatred she was feeling toward Billyboy at the moment.
"Lord Dire? Who the hell is Lord Dire?" Vim asked moodily. "I don't work for amateurs, bad for my reputation! Nemesis, the Center, the Clockwork King, they have names for themselves, but I've never even heard of this guy. I don't wanna go killing someone for a guy who's gonna get taken down before he can pay me!"
Billyboy's glowing eyes suddenly flashed before her eyes, his whirling fists, his annoyingly long hair. Suddenly, pay didn't seem to matter much. She just wanted to take down everything that [censored] believed in, to destroy him so utterly that nothing could save him.
"Whatever, I'll do anything you need me to. As long as I get to hurt people." the girl said grimly. "Lots of people."
"Very good Vim rest for now." Delphi spoke softly. "Lord Dire has made some arraignements for your return to the battle. It well come soon. then you well have revenge."
As Delphi spoke a small drone walked forward and handed Vim a belt with a pair of metallic gloves. As Vim Studied them she replied ascerbically
" Im already fashion conscious thanks." disdaining the accoutrements offered to her.
" These are made for you." Delphi responded. "the belt is designed to generate a counter energy field. which is then channeled through the gloves.."YAHYAH they make pretty lights." Vim spat out "You and Lord Dire are boring me so cut to the chase."
Then Delphi showed her something that made her look at the gloves and belt with a wicked smile that would have sent shivers down the spine of the devil himself.
The holo simulation showed that the gloves and belt were designed to fight energy generating heroes. by disrupting there natural energy frequencies.
((think luminous using redsun energy to beat superman senceless hes not any stronger but the energy makes him hit like a jackhammer))
Seeing the understanding on Vims face. Delphi replied. " Yes Vim these combined with your strength well enable you to kill him at your leisure." as she said this a picture of Billyboy appeared showing the gloves and belt allready attuned to his energy wave lengths.
"I want him dead now. " She snarled as she quickly put on the belt and gloves.
"Soon. Lord Dire has some small use for him but when that usefullnes is at an end he wished me to assure you that he well be yours." she replied. " you may watch from here and remain prepared He well call you soon to collect your bounty."
A holographic representation of the events from the perspective of a sensor drone that shadowed them came up for Vims view. as a drone came up bearing a tray of drinks and small sandwhiches for ehr consumption.
on the screen she watched billyboy as he joined Lord Dire and mutai kid, and Psi earth. the 4 of them moving towards the command center. Billyboy seemed to be laughing at some thing laughing at her she clenched the chair arm crushing it in her enraged grip. she gritted out.
"Laugh now billyboy. youll be laughing out the otherside of your face next time i see you."
Delphis holgraphic image stood silently by awaiting the command form Lord Dire that would send Vim to finish what she started.
So you mean you'll put down your rock, and I'll put down my sword; and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?
Dubbed first knight of pep-istan by her majesty Queen Pepcat. first catmonaut to walk onna moon.
PENGUIN!!!...(^)>
...............C(...)D
.................m.m
((OOC- Thankyou Catsi and Billyboy, I really didn't want to use your characters. ))
Iron Fist was running forward at high speed, impatiently wondering how long it would take for Psy to finish the mind scan. Fist did not trust Physic. Physic seemed equally distrutful. He took out his anger on a Fake Nemesis. His strong grip took the machine around the throat in one hand, and its wrist in the other. Fist's hands glowed with nuclear energy and he ripped the automoton in unequal halves.
Silver Skull snuck up behind Iron Fist. He was going to surprise him, thinking that Iron Fist would take it in good fun. Bad Idea. He got closer... and closer... "BOO-urk!" Iron Fist had him by the throat, his free hand open and glowing oarnge with energy. After recognizing the figure in front of him, Iron Fist slowly set Skull down on the ground. "Bloody hell bloke, whyed you do that for? Ya coulda killed me!" Iron Fist just stared at him angrily, causing Silver Skull to drop his gaze and shiver a bit. "Dont EVER do that again. Do you understand?"
"Err... yeah. Course I do." Iron Fist smirked. "Good. What did you find out from the Nemesis base?" Skull smiled under his mask. "Well, the crazy 5th Column, you remember the ones, they have teamed up with Nemesis and are making these giant robots outa cement! They used Nanite Technology to control the statues an- Oh. Well I guess you figured that out already." He had finally noticed the 2 wrecks that used to be staues. "Anything useful?" Silver Skull shook his head. "Nah, when I tried to dig deeper, it needed a password. When I didn't give the right password it said, and I quote: Syster Error. Password incorrect. This object will self-destruct in 10 minutes." "And how long has it been since you were down there?" Iron Fist asked. "Oh about nine and a half minutes. Why?"
Even from this great distance away Psiearth mentally registered Physic Defiance's shudder and underlying thoughts. Simultaneously he caught a glimpse of Lord Dire's attention to something distant, he sensed something more but could not tell what it was exactly, something to do with a transport. He bears watching, I would bet he's got some plan in mind that he doesn't want us to know about. Psiearth kept these thoughts to himself, perhaps at the right moment they would fit into the puzzle laid before him.
In all the years as an Immortal, Psiearth had been in many battles with many powerful foes and heroes. He recalled the day that Atlas saved so many in Paragon, a day he mourned, for he lost a great friend. The villians always had plans on top of plans, layers of deceit which an unwary hero could fall prey to at inopertune moments. This day was no different, and Psiearth would do all he could to protect his friends, new and old.
Mutai Kid turned and saw a reflection of thought cross Psiearth's face. "What is it Psi?"
"Contemplating life, the universe, and everything young man!" Psiearth replied to his young friend. Psiearth had only known Mutai Kid for two years, but already they were very good friends. It was Psiearth who had pulled Mutai Kid from the car accident, saving the young fighter's life. Though he was able to stabilize the young man's condition, he could not repair the damage to his nervous system. But it was Psiearth who had urged the young fighter to not give up, for he saw the spirit of a hero inside this amazing man, something that surpassed most men, that willingness to fight against the odds even when all seemed hopeless. This is a day when that courage will again be tested my young friend.
Mutai Kid sensed that Psiearth was holding something back, but he'd always been that way, giving encouragement when it was needed, but letting a person find their strength within themselves. This trait was one that Mutai Kid really appreciated, for it helped him become the hero he was today. Fearless but wary, quick but not rash, sure of himself regardless of the situation.
At that moment Billyboy rejoined the group. Psiearth used his powers to energize Billyboy, healing the slight wounds from the short battle with Vim. "So the young lady was persistent?" Psiearth asked, scanning Billyboy's mind and sensing the emotions left from the encounter.
"She didn't want to take 'No' for an answer, so I had to persuade her a bit! I don't think she'll be much to worry about for a long time though, she's cooling her heels and licking her wounds down in the caves below us." Billyboy said this with a laugh and a wink.
"Good going Billyboy, but now we better make tracks, Nemesis needs to be stopped!" These words came from Hellcat, who had turned to the small group to see what was keeping them. They must get to the control room quick if the day was not to be lost.
"It is that balance, the ground between EB and AV, where the PvP struggle should exist. Where a 1v1 becomes a struggle of equals, and 1vMany gives the benefit to the 1."
Freedom: Fireocity, Electro Imp, Gotya
Infinity: Meteor Storm, Mutai Kid, General Bot, Da Smasher
Panda Doll sat on a drainage pipe overlooking a rather large room with a series of pumps. She was watching a squad of 5th Column soldiers walk through the room, wary and alert, but she was in stealth and had no fear of detection.
She was contemplating how she'd been discovered by that silver skulled fellow who'd put the knife in her earlier. Hmm, must have been some infrared tracking, that's got to be it, I'm invisible to everything else. Well, if I see him again, we'll see how well he does 'cause two can play that game!
Panda Doll decided that following the squad of soldiers might be better than wandering in the sewers for hours. Jumping down once they'd moved out of the room, she followed them through the maze of passages. Every few minutes the squad would meet up with other 5th Column units and form a larger unit. Now she was following a group of about 20 soldiers, they seemed to have a purpose, a place to go, and a schedule to keep.
After about 20 minutes the soldiers entered a spacious room with many more soldiers and many robotic mechs around. She saw numerous Fake Nemesis, but also one who looked a bit different. Panda Doll jumped to an upper catwalk and then to some ductwork to hide. Something big is going on here, must be that Nemesis fellow who hired Vim!
Panda Doll did not realize she had followed the squad right into Nemesis' control sanctuary. From this location the Lord of Brass was controlling the events that had befallen Steel Canyon all day long.
"A breach in security has been detected at Alpha Point 1 my Lord! The self-descruct sequence for that location has been activated, there are only 30 seconds left before detonation. Squads in that area have been recalled per your orders."
Nemesis gave no nod of recognition and none was expected. Orders were carried out without question or comment, no waste of speech necessary between Lord and servant.
"It is that balance, the ground between EB and AV, where the PvP struggle should exist. Where a 1v1 becomes a struggle of equals, and 1vMany gives the benefit to the 1."
Freedom: Fireocity, Electro Imp, Gotya
Infinity: Meteor Storm, Mutai Kid, General Bot, Da Smasher
Valiant stood on the ceiling over Nemesis. He knew he couldn't attack right now, too many troops around. The cloaking device he had on him was only a prototype he had made for an emergency, and it only had five minutes of use left.
Looks like I should be making my quick getaway... wait, who's that?
A girl crouched on a landing just beneath Valiant, but she was only reflecting infrared light...
Nemesis doesn't have and invisible troops... This could be a problem...
He floated down next to the girl and leaned in.
"From what I heard in the last fifteen minutes. We need to leave. Now."
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"What the...." despite her normal propensity for calmness Panda Doll was panicking, the sudden appearance of Valiant beside her, actually talking to her while she was stealthed unnerved her. Another jerk who was able to see through her cloaking ability was almost too much for Panda Doll. "Who are... Where did..." She couldn't complete her thoughts she was so unhitched. She was about ready for a nervous breakdown. But then her years of martial arts training kicked in, calming her down, allowing logic to again take hold and help her regain composure.
At that moment Valiant switched off his cloaking system to save the precious minutes left that would be needed to safely get out of the room. "As I said, We need to leave now! I know you can't be with Nemesis, otherwise you'd be down there. If we wait too much more there won't be an opportunity to get out!"
"You know the way out? I'm afraid I followed those soldiers here and I have no idea where 'here' is!" Panda Doll feigned fear, hoping that the hero's help would not only finally get her out of the sewers, but perhaps back on Mutai Kid's track.
"Yes, follow me and we'll get out of here while the gettings good!" With that, Valiant turned his cloaking device back on and silently led the way towards on of the many entrances. Panda Doll donned a miniature set of IR goggles and easily tracked Valiant's form across the room to the exit. Within a few minutes his cloak began to flicker and finally shut down, it's power depleted, but by that time they had made good progress out of harms way, at least for the moment.
"It is that balance, the ground between EB and AV, where the PvP struggle should exist. Where a 1v1 becomes a struggle of equals, and 1vMany gives the benefit to the 1."
Freedom: Fireocity, Electro Imp, Gotya
Infinity: Meteor Storm, Mutai Kid, General Bot, Da Smasher
Valiant floated along, keeping himself at a pace Panda could jog along side to.
"Don't worry, he said, "the surface is just up this pipe, then we can catch up with Billy and Mutai."
ThumpThumpThump
Panda Doll's normal levels of self control slip. She was a Martial Artist, Cool and collected, but she couldn't suppress a small bit of excitement about finally getting her target.
Valiant paused in mid flight.
Did her heart rate just increase? Normal now... but I could have sworn it jumped...
Something seemed odd to him. This girl stood spying on Nemesis without so much as flinching, yet acted fearful when he spoke to her. At first he thought it shock at being found, but now...
The two of them quickly made it out of the pipe. The fresh air a sweet relief from the sewer.
She was in contact with someone whom I've met before... I smell traces of a scent. But the sewer has masked it... I should keep a close eye on her...
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Physic Defiance was too occuipied with her musings to notice the faint tickling sensation as her mind was probed. She did, however, manage to consider that their new leader could just be a slightly skewed version of a hero - heaven only knew how many of them were running around paragon.
Iron Fist was nearby, and - unfortunatly for the extremely unlucky heroine - she did not think that he would have reason to be suspicious at this stage. So she continued on as happily as she could with her work, destroying nemisis soldiers, nemisis bots, and the few shards of cements that had managed to stay alive.
Yeah, that was the weird part of the whole operation. Because of the advanced nano technology used, the larger parts of the statues (the ones that had major wiring and whatnot still inside them) were able to writh and twitch on the dusty ground. It was a little unnerving, but Physic thought of them as seperate nuissenses rather than full-fledged enemies, or even maggots (which they greatly resembled).
Knight had been surviving decently, although the larger wounds of the battle hadn't been healed yet. She was usually out of the range of Physics, or even Hidden's, health-boosting powers.
She made use of the healing properties of her fiery aura - unbenownst to most of the world, as fire usually scorched and rarely healed - as much as she could. Contrary to what her friends thought, Knight actually had a fair amount of mental prowess, and was thinking at the moment that she'd rather be back home and fighitng enemies that bled instead of short-circuted.
Not in those words, of course, but in the vague giest that her mental process called for.
The Femme padded over to visit Hidden, and maybe catch the tail end of the healthy radiation he emmited sparradicly, and then she stomped towards Iron Fist, the largest, most important-looking figure arond.
Tossing the head and hands of a nemisis troop at his feet as a peace offering, the femme openly looked him up and down. The "presents" had been severed from the toughest foe she had taken down that day, and in her mind it was a gift for a king.
With her bloody hands, rough leather kilt, yellowed canvas top and ferocious eyes, Knight was deadly, enticing, and completly out of place. When she spoke (lips and cheeks and eyes flushed with the heat of battle), her englich accent was thick and unsteady.
"King lead this battle yes? Fists of metal-" she gestured with her fists, "- strong man, no? We fight for you. Fight good 'n hard."
Knight finished by squaring her shoulders and bearing her teeth, a sort of growl emmiting form her throat. Then Hidden Incognito's hands were around her shoulders, and he was pushing her gently aside for Physic to tend to her wounds.
But Knight had given Iron Fist her pledge of loyality, strong and true, and Physic was now the only one who hadn't spoken up.
Iron Fist had heard, understood, and appreciated the offering. It was the gift of a servant to a king. The kind they used during the days of his ancestors. The days that Iron Fist would bring back, one way or another. Hmmm, it seems that the only one who hasn't pledged loyalty to me yet is that Physic... She might be a difficulty. He pressed that well used button in his coat and said, "Psy."
Psy appeared before him promt as usual. Fist inquired, "What have you found out?" Psy excitedly relayed the information about her suspicions, the history of Physic and her teamates, even what Physic wanted for dinner. Iron Fist liked to know EVERYTHING, and that included the petty things such as dinner.
"Very good Psy. I am thinking that it might be time for a higher possition in my army." Psy was dumbfounded. "R-really Sire? Th-th-thank you sir! I am honored to serve you." Iron Fist flashed his famous smirk and said, "I know. You may go." Psy dissapeared in a flash of light.
Hmmm... dissapointing. Physic would have been an accelent member of the Order. She could have worked along with Psy and the rest of the telepaths. I will either need to convince her or... destroy her. With those disturbing thoughts in the Masterminds head Iron Fist said, "Everyone come with me! The last place that we need to go to is down! We are going to Nemesis' home base!" His soldiers cheered as they walked off. Iron Fist frowned as he noticed the first small flecks of the setting Sun. The day is almost over... Nemesis will not want his siege to last more than one day. It would not be like him to do so. He must be planning something... but what? Suddenly, they felt a small shake in the ground. Not enough for any REAL problems, but enough to make the ground beneath the city weaker. The computer that Silver Skull had hacked was exploding.
So he's gonna lead me straight to Mutai Kid! Alright!! Panda Doll breathed a sigh of relief at finally being out of that damnable sewer. "Thanks for the help I never thought I'd get out of there." Panda Doll said to valiant in the sweetest voice she could muster trying to cover any hint of her elation on hearing Mutai Kid's name.
"Lead on, I'll be right behind you!" And if I see Mutai Kid ahead, that'll be the best place to attack from.... Heroes! Bah! Trusting imbeciles, that's all they are!
"It is that balance, the ground between EB and AV, where the PvP struggle should exist. Where a 1v1 becomes a struggle of equals, and 1vMany gives the benefit to the 1."
Freedom: Fireocity, Electro Imp, Gotya
Infinity: Meteor Storm, Mutai Kid, General Bot, Da Smasher
Hidden Incognito moved alongside the rest of the soldiers, extremily glad to be a part of a single-minded entiey. The good ol' days of marching, stratigies and simple, day-by-day lives were missed very much by the pink armoured hero.
Of course, there was no denying that it was the military who got him into this mess with the radiation and the hero-ism and the pink armour. (At least it wasn't solid pink, there was some tasteful black checkers thrown in for a hint of manliness.)
Sadly, though, the men at the Lab had a bad sense of humour. Once they realised "Radioactivly Engeneered Advanced Lifeforms" had the acrynom REAL, they decided that only REAL men wore pink.
Hidden smirked at these memories, gazing at the men around him. They were happy, concentrated and fit. Ideal soldiers, each and every one of them. He hadn't even needed to re-awaken any of them yet. Astounding.
Knight was waiting patiently at his side as he breifly reminised, unsure if she should follow the soldiers into the dark sewer entrance. Hidden nuged her along when he came to the present, and Knight ducked inside the filthy chamber.
Physic remained behind. She had that queasy feeling she sometimes got when things were about to go horribly wrong. Horribly, and unavoidably wrong.
She didn't know what it was. Maybe it was that sense of This can't nearly be all, that afflicted heroes regurily, just before they open the door and a pile of bloodthirsty cadavers fall out and try to kill you.
Maybe that was too specific, but the sensation was nearly the same.
Lacking any other sort of Idea, Physic made her way over to iron Fist, who, for the past short while, was talking confidentially to once of his... underlings. Physic waited patiently untill the moment the conversation borke off, gave him two seconds to collect his thoughts - and hers- and then padded over to him.
"Sir. My companions accepted your leadership easily - a great honour, you would see, if you knew them."
What the hell am I doing? I could be digging my own grave here.
"But I, sir, can be harder to please. I know you are intelligent, perseverent, and authoritive. You have many allies scattered about. I, Sir, need to know where your motives lie. I will continue on this particular mission with you, but after that, I cannot gaurentee anything."
Granted, she was dairng, couragerous, maybe a tad bit full of adrenaline (causing her to do things that norrmally she would have never tried), but she still had her brain intact, and Physic was ready to spring away if anything bad happened.
Which, of course, it would. That cadaver-in-a-closet feeling was slowly increasing, and the tenstion would break soon.
"Iron Fist, sir, I am at your command untill nemisis is defeated. I assure you that. I do, however, have my own honour and valour to keep intact. A hero would respect that."
She finished, a tad challengligly. Curtious, bold, breif. The hero waited for Iron Fist to make of her as he would.
Toy walked over to where Iron Fist and the hero were standing with his gun over his shoulder. The mastermind has several bullet holes in his armor and the robots that were deployed around him were battered but he seemed to have come out of the battle relatively unscathed. Toy Dispenser heard what the hero said to Iron and recalled an offer the other mastermind made a few minutes ago.
"What she said." said Toy as he hooked a thumb at Physic, "I'll stick with you as far as it takes to take down Nemesis. Normally I'd ask for pay but some of the salvage rights for what we find will be fine with me. Ghoul will follow my lead well enough. And if you're thinking about that old 'There's no honor among thieves' crap, relax. Betrayl is bad for business."
A Nemesis soldier landed in front of Toy in a crumpled, bleeding heap.
"Sorry!" shouted Brutish Ghoul as he ran over, "Didn't watch where I threw that."
Ghoul reached down and hurled the dead soldier away into a pile of wrecked mechs. Toy Dispenser shook his head and had his robots stand down until he got Iron Fist's reply.
Statesman said let there be heroes, and there were heroes.
Lord Recluse said let there be villains, and there were villains.
NCsoft said let there be nothing, and there was nothing.
Brutish Ghoul landed next to Toy Dispenser as Iron Fist caused the giant statue to destroy itself. Ghoul cheered the victory along with the other soldiers as Toy called in his big guns. There was a trio of bright flashes as two Protector Bots and his Assault Bot teleported in. The three of them used low velocity aerial insertion most of the time and would have been shot down before getting within a mile of Paragon City if they tried that.
"The battle isn't even close to being over." said Toy as his wrist flanges flared and enclosed a charging vampyre in a detention field.
"Yeah yeah." Muttered Ghoul as he leaped throught the air to land on a small firing line of 5th Column. He grabbed one soldier and channeled dark energy into his body, causing it to twitch and jerk in its death throes. The massive zombie fell back as one soldier fired an RPG right in his face.
OOC: Finish the rest of this later.
Statesman said let there be heroes, and there were heroes.
Lord Recluse said let there be villains, and there were villains.
NCsoft said let there be nothing, and there was nothing.